Emily Elizabeth Barger, 7, of Knoxville, went to be with Jesus Tuesday night, June 24, 2008, at Children's Hospital.
She fought a hard battle against a rare form of cancer for about a year and a half, and during that time, her courageous fight inspired many people around the world via the Internet.
Emily was the 2008 Children's Miracle Network Champion for the state of Tennessee.
She attended Salem Baptist Church and was a student at Adrian Burnett Elementary School as a 1st grader.
She is and will always be a very special little girl and will be missed.
Emily was preceded in death by her great grandparents, Earl and Corene Barger, Reed Bivens and Christine Ashley.
Emily is survived by her loving parents, Misty and Brian Barger; her sisters, Megan and Blair; her grandparents, Linda and Walt Thomas, Wanda and Ben Barger (formerly of Hixson), Ann and Ron Shaw; her great grandparents, Geneva Bivens, Raymond Ashley of Hixson, G.E. and Jean Shaw and Helen Tate; great-uncles, Jim Ashley of Soddy-Daisy and Ronnie Day of Hixson; great-aunts, Kay Ashley of Soddy-Daisy and Susan Day of Hixson.
Funeral services were held at 8 p.m. Thursday at Salem Baptist Church with Dr. Phil Young officiating and hundreds of family members and friends attending.
Also speaking during the service was Russell Biven, co-host of "Live at Five" at WBIR TV, where Emily’s dad is the senior news producer. The station’s web site (http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=59974) includes stories, photos and a video of Emily and her family.
A graveside service was held on Friday at 2:45 p.m. at Haven Hill Memorial Gardens in Madisonville, Tenn. The service included children releasing butterflies and helium-filled balloons.
Memorial contributions may be sent in Emily's name to the Barger Family c/o Salem Baptist Church, 8201 Hill Road, Knoxville, TN 37938. Mynatt Funeral Home, Halls Chapel, was in charge of arrangements.